The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1887-01-21
There came Il sound of blows rained unor

There came Il sound of blows raincd unor
the horses botlies-of shouts and oaths from
excited drivers and eager otiiccrs-of r,lshinc
wheels and of ironetl hoofs striking fire from
the grinding stones. Six long bodied, stronr
li,abad horses. their hides rocking, with sweat
and their nostrils distended with intense
effort. tore past, s,larchng after them, as if
it were Il toy. n cleaning brass cannon, sur.
rounded by galloping cannoneers, who
coated the draft horses on with blows with
the flats of their drawn sabcrs. Another
gun, with restraining horses and gal!opin. at
tentlants, and another and another, unit six
great, grim pieces, with their scores of tlcs-
pe,ately eager men and horses, had rushed bv
toward the front.
1t was u sight tn stir the coolest blood The
excited infantry boys, wrought up to the last
pitch by the spectacle, sprang back into tho
road, chctred vociferously, and rushed ON
after the battery.
Hardly had the echoes of their voices died
away, when they heard tho battery join its
thu,lders to the din Of the fight.
Then wounded men, powdcr-stainet, came
struggling back-men with shattered arms
and gashed faces and garments soaked with
blood from bleeding wounds.
"Hurrah, boys!" each shouted with weak
ened voice, as his eyes lighted up at sight Of
the regiment, "We're whipping them; but
hurry forward! You're needed!"
"lf you amt pretty quick" piped one girl.
faced boy, with a pensive smile, as he sat
weakly down on a stone and pressed delicate
hand over a round red spot that had Just an.
peared on the breast of his blouse, "you'll
miss all the fun. We've about licked EN- al.
ready. OH
Abe and Kent sprang forward to catcl,
him, but he was dead almost before they
could reach him. They laid him back ten
derby on the brown dead leaves, and ran to
regain their places in the ranks.
| The regiment was now sweeping around
the last curve between it and the line of bat
tic. The smell of the burning powder that
! filled the air, the sight Of flowing blood, the
shouts of the fighting men, had awakened in
every bosom that deep-lyng killing instinct
inherited from our savage ancestry, which
slumbers--generally wholly unsuspected-in
even the gentlest mans bosom, until some
accident gives it u terrible arousing.
Now the staying fever burned in every soul.
They We're marching with long quick strides,
but we'll closed ranks elbow touching elbow.
and every movement made with even more
than tho accuracy of a parade. Harry felt
himself swept forward by current as re-
sistlcss as that which sets over Niagara
lucy C:tIllc tIOutIl lltIlc I'LL, ana saw q
bank of smoke indicating where the line of
battle was
Lets finish the canteen now," said Kent.
1T may get bored by a bullet and all run out,
and you know hate waste"
II suppose we might as well drink it, u.s.
sented Abe-the first time in the history of
the regiment, that he agreed with anybody
"We may MT be able to do it in ten minutes,
and it would be too bad to've lugged that
all the way here, just for some one else to
drink"
An aide, powder grimed, but radiant with
Joy, dashed up. Colonel" he said, "you had
better so into line over in that vacant space
there, and wait for orders; but don't think
you will have anything to do, for the general
believes that the victory is won, and the
Confedcratcs are in full retreat"
As he spoke, u mighty cheer rolled around
the line of battle, and a band stationed upon
Il rock which formed the highest part of the
mountain, burst forth with the grand strains
OF the "Star Spanylesl Banner"
The artillery continued to hurl screaming
shot and she'll down into the narrow gorge
through which the defeated Coniederates
were flying with mad haste.